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Dominican Sisters Open Mic
Ep. 13: Aliens? Chemistry? Science and the Search for Truth (Sr. Stephen Patrick, O.P., Ph.D.)
00:45:34
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- [00:00]
A
The beautiful part is when the. When that holy hour ended, the Lord had just in my heart. We were speaking back and forth, and I was giving him all these reasons, and why not?
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B
Why you can't.
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A
And he. He said, I want you to be my bride. I'll do everything for you, but it's your choice. And it was just so freeing and just, you know, open. And I went to bed that night. I had some crazy dreams. You know, they say a woman in love, you just can't get in their way. And I really had that experience. Experience of just like, yeah, throw any mountain in front of me, like, I know what I'm made for and I'm gonna do this thing.
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B
Can't keep working till hours of the night.
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A
No, I mean, you can, but it's so much better if you don't.
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B
Hi, and welcome to Dominican Sisters open Mic. My name is Sister Miriam, and I'm a sister of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist. We're going to be sitting down once a week talking with sisters of our community about all things Dominican. And today we have on our show Sister Stephen Patrick, and we are talking about faith and science. Sister, thanks for coming on the show.
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A
Thank you for inviting me, Sister Miriam. It's always a joy to spend some time with you.
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B
Sister. I want to give our listeners a little bit of bi biographical background about you. You're from Alabama.
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A
That's right.
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B
You entered the convent in 2005.
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A
Yes.
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B
You are certified to teach chemistry and biology at the high school level, is that correct?
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A
That's correct.
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B
And you have also completed Your degree, your PhD in cell microbial biology from the Catholic University of America. And why don't you tell us what you're teaching now and where?
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A
Right now I'm teaching in Kansas city, Missouri, at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School in Lee Summit. And I'm teaching astronomy and meteorology, anatomy and physiology and chemistry this year.
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B
So you have a. Quite, quite a few different things that you're teaching.
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A
I do. The Lord keeps me on my to,
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B
so I want to get into the face faith and science discussion. Because you're a science teacher, you have a lot of education in science, and you're also a sister. But before we get to that, I always find it interesting to talk or have you share about how God has worked in your life to get you to the convent. So how was it that you heard God's voice, that he made himself known to you and led you to the religious life? Were you thinking about it when you Were in high school.
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A
Absolutely not. Yeah. God is, is so good. I, I grew up in a Catholic family. I have five brothers and a sister. And I actually went to boarding school for high school with Benedictine monks in Coleman, Alabama.
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B
Right. And you're playing basketball. Right.
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A
Basketball was my life.
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B
And you're good to this day. You've got some good moves.
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A
You know, it's, it's a joy to share the gifts that the Lord gives you and to, to bring people to him in whatever way is possible. I would say in, in high school, I was just, you know, living high school. I was studying and trying to do well. I was spending a lot of time with friends. Of course, boarding school allows you to do that.
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B
Right.
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A
And dedicating a lot of time to basketball.
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B
Okay.
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A
But if I think about my faith life, it was really at a point of this is what you do. You pray at night, you go to church on Sunday. And that's kind of it. There wasn't really this like deep relationship or encounter with the Lord yet. It was actually more at a distance in a sense of just like, I felt like he really wasn't interested in me. And that's just kind of where I was at that point in time.
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B
And you had plans for your career. Did. Were you thinking about getting married?
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A
Oh, definitely. That's what I knew was the big family. My mom was a stay at home mom. And so I just kind of imagined life would be getting married and having children and staying at home and that kind of a thing. So I actually decided to go to the University of South Alabama.
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B
Okay.
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A
In Mobile. And I was, I went there because it's a good allied health, medical field type of school.
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B
Okay.
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A
So I was like, what doors will open? I know. I want to help people. What do I want to do? I don't know. I want to be a stay at home mom. And in my first year, I came across the radiologic technology program. And they interview hundreds of people each year and only accept 50 into their program.
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B
Oh.
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A
And I got accepted.
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B
Wow.
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A
And so I thought, okay, this is God's will. A door opened. I'm going to walk through this door. And that's, that's what I did. So very much thinking, you know, I will travel the world or at least the United States as a rad tech once I graduate, eventually find Mr. Perfect. And then we'd settle down somewhere and start having a family. And that's, that's really where my goal was. I didn't really have God at the center of that because I wasn't really in a deep relationship with him at the time.
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B
So was it during your college years that you started to grow deeper in your faith?
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A
Absolutely.
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B
Your prayer life started to grow. How did that unfold?
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A
It all started one night. I was just kind of in a low part of life, and I found myself in the chapel. And I was in the chapel and just felt this deep sense of peace. And that's where the. The real presence of Christ really just spoke to me.
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B
Was it a time of adoration specifically or just you just felt it on your heart or you felt compelled to go to our Lord in the chapel and he's in the tabernacle, and you were just having quiet prayer time just
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A
by the grace of God? Like, it's actually kind of mysterious. But that peace brought me back. And so, you know, my heart was searching for something, and I just knew there was peace there. And in addition to my basketball skills, I'm also talented musically.
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B
You are, Sister. I love singing with you.
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A
Yes. And so I would sing for Sunday masses for our Catholic Student center, and I would sing at praise and worship, Adoration. And that just got me more and more involved. And eventually a new chaplain invited me. He's, why don't you come to daily Mass? And I'm looking at my schedule thinking, well, I'm studying, I'm teaching, I'm doing clinicals. Oh, I wasn't teaching at the time, but I was. I was working at a school for aftercare.
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B
Oh, okay.
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A
And so time was pretty limited.
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B
Right.
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A
And then I said, well, what time is daily Mass? And he said, 9pm And I. I looked at my schedule and thought, oh, I can make that work.
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B
Oh, wow.
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A
So just slowly, over time, the sacraments and the people really helped me to encounter the Lord. And with the sacraments, it was just really, at Mass, the Scriptures would speak. I. I think you've had this experience of the Word of God coming alive, and every word that comes out is like striking you, and you're realizing, oh, my gosh, I'm made for this. And the words be not afraid were pretty big for me. Just trust in the Lord.
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B
You know, speaking to. Yeah. I think when we have those moments where it's almost like being pierced by the word of God, and not only does it impact you in the moment, but you're changed by it.
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A
Yes.
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In a way that you're able to. To love in a new way or to give yourself in a new way because of the words of Scripture just piercing you, changing you.
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A
And you have to change. And you Know, realizing, oh, wow, I need to go to confession. Not that I was a terrible person, but just there's more graces available to me. And so just kind of like drops falling on a rock, drops of water falling on a rock and smoothing it out. My heart was receiving the grace of God, especially in eucharistic adoration. I just loved singing to him and praising him and being with him in his presence, talking about prayer. I mean, who knew how to pray at that point in time? But you could just be there and know that he was loving you.
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B
And there's a lot of healing that comes from that as well.
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A
Yes.
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B
Spending the time with our Lord.
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A
Yeah. Someone said, you know, it's. It's like being before the sun and getting sunburned, like being before the Lord in adoration. You're just soaking in those graces. And I received a lot of healing in that point in time and a lot of love just from people around me. And so receiving the grace, speaking of not being afraid, just to open my heart to trusted friends, brought in a lot of moments of grace and peace and healing as well.
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B
And then you started to think about the religious life. Did you know any sisters at that time?
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A
You know, I. I grew up in Alabama, so Mother Angelica wasn't too far away. So she was there.
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B
Ewt. Ewtn.
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A
That's right. And I studied with Benedictine monks, and then their nuns were also some of my teachers and librarians and things like that. So sisters were in my life.
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B
Okay.
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A
But it's just. I never really thought about religious life as option. They were older sisters, generally speaking, and I don't. I just never encountered people entering religious life.
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B
Right.
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A
But in college, my best friend, she knew she was going to be a sister, and so she was talking about it. She was bringing us to different monasteries and convents, and.
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B
Wow. She brought you along.
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A
She did. She's like, you want to come? And it's kind of like with you. You want to be on this podcast?
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B
Want to sing in my bed?
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A
Yes. Yes. I always want to join Sister Miriam's band. And so I just jumped on for her the. The Nun run. So she planned a trip during our spring break where we would bust out of Alabama, visit communities in Nashville and Washington, D.C. and as I was on this trip, I was there. I. I really had felt like I had discerned my. My call to marriage. But again, the peace of God in adoration at each of these monasteries spoke. And I was just resting with him. And I loved it. I loved it. And I was In Nashville with the Nashville Dominicans, and just loved the Dominican habit, the charism, the history, the traditions. And yet what was striking is I. I just didn't have a sense that that was home. And when I was in Washington, D.C. i was in adoration. And that's really where the Lord just. He opened heaven and came down to me, and he said, I want you to be my bride. I want you to be my spouse.
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B
Wow. And were you visiting there?
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A
I was visiting the. The servadoras, so the servants. The servants of the Lord and the Virgin of Matara, which is where my. My friend actually entered. She entered there.
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B
So you're having this prayer time and you hear our Lord's invitation. Yeah. To be his bride.
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A
And my response is, I can't. I've kept you at a distance for so long. Like, you don't want me. I'm not good enough. I need to finish college. What will my parents think? They don't even know that I'm discerning. Am I discerning? You know, just all these questions because I really hadn't thought about it too much. I was just going on a trip.
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B
You're along for the ride.
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A
And the beautiful part is when the. When that holy hour ended, the Lord had just. In my heart. We were speaking back and forth, and I was giving him all these reasons, and why not?
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B
Why you can't.
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A
Wow. And he. He said, I want you to be my bride. I'll do everything for you, but it's your choice. And it was just so freeing and just, you know, open. And I went to bed that night. I had some crazy dreams. And then when I woke up the next morning and was driving home, I told my friends in the car, I'm called to be a sister. And as I said that, I felt the Holy Spirit come upon me. The heat of the Holy Spirit, the joy of the Holy Spirit.
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B
When you. When you said it out loud, when
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A
I said it out loud, it was just like fire rain down into my heart. And I knew, like, this is what I'm made for. And he's chosen me. He loves me, and he's chosen me. And I don't know why, but I know that he does, and he will do everything. And, you know, they say a woman in love, you just can't get in their way. And I really had that experience of just like, yeah, throw any mountain in front of me. Like, I know what I'm made for, and I'm gonna do this thing. And yet I had no idea what to do.
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B
The Next steps.
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A
Yeah. Because, yes, there's religious around, but I don't know, you kind of look around at different vocations booths, and I wasn't seeing the next step. But what I did do was I started praying a rosary every day.
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B
Oh.
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A
And I said, mary, just help me. And. And she does. I had just learned about the total consecration to Jesus through Mary, the St. Louis de Montfort one that our community does. And so not too much longer. I. I got a. A letter from Sister Mary Michael in our community. She and my brother Chris studied physical therapy together at the University of South Alabama. So they are four years ahead of me.
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B
Okay.
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A
I get there, they're already gone. And she invites me to a vocation retreat. And so that's. That's kind of what happened. I came on retreat. It was my first time flying. A lot of things happened to make it possible to even be on retreat in Michigan. And while I was there, I just. I. I heard the Lord say, this is home. Like, that's crazy. This is not Alabama. Michigan is not Alabama. No, but it was home. And I was just kind of incredible. Actually.
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B
I think a couple things you said resonate with me. I think one of the things you mentioned, that Jesus, the Lord, when he's speaking to you, making known his will invitation to be a bride, that he says, it's your choice. And I think I really felt that too, in my own discernment, just that what the Lord was presenting to me in the religious life was such a beautiful pathway, but I was not being forced to go on that way. But to pass on it would be to miss out on a wonderful, beautiful opportunity where I really felt convicted. I'd be the most happy living the religious life. I would be happy another in another vocation in. In marriage and having. Having a family. But there was something in me that recognized I'd be the most happy, the most fulfilled as a sister. I always felt that I had a choice of which pathway and that our Lord was. Was with me and near to me. So the other thing that when you pulled out your rosary, you decided to pray a rosary. I also decided to pray a rosary every day when I was discerning my vocation. And I found that it was very freeing to just turn that over to the Lord. Absolutely. And put it in our. Our Lady's hands. And then it's like, okay, I don't have to worry about this because our Mother is praying for me. Our Blessed Mother. And it's gonna. It's gonna come together, right?
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A
Absolutely.
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B
So did you do the consecration to Our lady at that time, I did.
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A
Our group that had gone on the nun run actually had learned about it at the Dominican Monastery of St. Jude in Marbury, Alabama. So they're a group of cloistered nuns. Dominican nuns. And so we got back and we started making the total consecration together, which is also just a great gift.
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B
Yeah.
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A
But my mom, she saw a picture of my group with these nuns in our Catholic newsletter for the diocese. And so she calls me up one day and she says, are you thinking about being a sister?
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B
Oh, really?
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A
I still hadn't told anyone. It happened so fast.
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B
Wow.
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A
And so, I mean, she picked up on it. She was fast. Yes. And so I said, well, yes. And it was the most beautiful thing because she shared, well, when you were still a baby in my womb, I consecrated you to Our lady and just entrusted you to her, saying whatever vocation you call her to help her to be the most faithful in it. Wow.
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B
So. And you hadn't known that?
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A
No, I never heard that before.
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B
That is so beautiful that she did that.
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A
Yeah. I think when you just encounter your own limitedness. Right. And you can surrender something over to the Lord or to his mother, there's great freedom that comes in knowing, I can't do it alone. But I can trust in my mom. I can trust in my father,
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B
which is something you carry as you live your religious life. Now that you're trusting in our Lord, how did you feel when you were asked? You were sent. You had the opportunity and the doors open for you to pursue a PhD in science.
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A
I was definitely surprised. It was. It was the assignments that year. They came out during Holy Week, so that's how memorable this is. I was just finishing student teaching. I was expecting that I would be teaching in a school the next year. That would be my assignment. And Mother Asamta was the one to say, we need academics at the Catholic University and you're gonna go study biology. And I was just floored. Because, honestly, my goal had been to get out of school as quickly as
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B
possible so that you could start teaching. Yeah.
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A
Well, I. I really didn't want to be a teacher so much either. But I love the Lord and he called me to this community, and I knew that whatever he was calling me to, I would have the grace to do it.
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B
Yeah.
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A
And so higher studies definitely wasn't on my bucket list. But what I love about our life is our assignments are God's will for us. And through that, we receive the graces that we need to be faithful. And that's all he asks.
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B
Sister, I have to say, you have been such a role model for me personally in my life as a religious. And I had the chance to live with you for too short a time.
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A
It was such a great year.
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B
It was only a year, but we were in Kansas City, Missouri. And I'm, I'm always edified by your trust in God and you're the calm and the peace that that brings you in your day to day living. You were teaching like four different science subjects, that one of them being AP biology. And this was a school that just opened, so we were creating our curriculums, creating all of our teaching resources. We established the convent. So we just set it up, we did a lot of shopping.
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A
That's right.
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B
And during that time you wrote your dissertation in cell microbial biology on yeast, to be exact. And you, you defended it that year during spring break. During spring break, while we were relaxing and enjoying our week off of school. I think one thing that, that, that really struck me, struck me and I wanted you to share about this was that you always took Sundays off, even while we were doing all the things. And I remember you coming by my office and you'd be all set to go outside on a walk on a Sunday and you'd say, sister, wanna come? And going on a walk. And I would think, how are you going on a walk right now? How can you possibly have time for this? When I knew all the things that you had on your plate and I would. Unfortunately, I haven't been the best about keeping our Our Lord's Day for the Lord. And I was probably working on something at the time and be like, oh, no, I can't come, I can't come. But can you share a little bit about your habit of the Lord's Day being for the Lord and how do you do it?
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A
Yeah, I, I don't know. I think it's probably something I picked up actually in college.
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B
Really?
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A
That would be my guess. Okay, I don't quite remember, but what comes to mind is the first fruits, just wanting to give the Lord back what he's given to us. And Sundays are meant to be a time of worship and recreation. And yeah, I, I find that I, I work so hard throughout the week that it's a gift to be able to rest like the Lord rested as we read in the Scriptures. And I think it's just a level of faith.
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B
Right.
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A
Like the Father asks us, he gives us this time to be renewed just in our relationship with him, our relationship with each other, just with the rest that we actually need. And so I, I don't know, you just give him that time. As I've aged in a religious life, I find that I get more and more and more responsibilities and my to do list is way than I could ever accomplish. And so by spending any amount of time on my to do list on a Sunday, I still am. I'm not gonna finish. And so, I don't know, it's just that, that surrender of Lord, I will give you this time and I know you'll bless the time and the mystery. It's actually kind of fun. The mystery of getting things back, the time back in, in other ways. This is almost like if I actually spent those hour, two hour, three, hour, five hours, whatever, doing the lesson planning or the grading or, or whatever, I wouldn't, I wouldn't be efficient. I wouldn't get it done or I wouldn't be renewed in the same way. Ready to go back for the, the rest of the week, Sister?
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B
I remember a funny story. You were taking Sunday off like usual, and then you're like, I don't know how it's gonna all come together.
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A
It's true. I don't. But it does.
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B
It somehow does. And I think you're like, I need a day off of school here. And there was the most unusual thing that happened. Like the pipes burst at school. It was right when this happened. The pipes burst. And not that we're hoping for something like that. And we were sorry that our principal had to deal with all that, but it was kind of funny where it was like, wow, I got my day off. And then you were the day off of school and then you were finishing everything that.
- [24:01]
A
It was the best snow day ever. Yes. Yes. We had been out at a event, a dinner the night before for the school. At the school. Okay. And you know, I had the four different preps that year.
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B
Yes.
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A
And we were out late and we
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B
got home and there was no time to get ready.
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A
I took my little post note and I wrote my plans for the next day. And I said, all right, I'm doing the best I can. I, I just, I give it to you. And I went to bed. That's the beauty of our life too, is the, the beauty of obedience. Like we just to be able to go to bed when it's time to go to.
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B
Yeah. We can't keep working to all hours of the night.
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A
No, I mean, you can, but it's so much better if you don't.
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B
Lights up, get your sleep, and tomorrow's a new day. And you're gonna bring it together.
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A
You knocked on the door or you slid this note over. You're like, sewage day.
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B
It's like.
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A
And I looked at my. My notes for that day, and I was like, these are terrible lesson plans. Like, it would have been a terrible day. It would have worked. But I was grateful for that day off.
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B
Yeah, we had a lot of good memories there. Sister, let's move into the faith and science conversation. I wonder how people react to you. You're a science teacher, when they see you. Or how do students react when they walk into the classroom and maybe they're new to the school or they're just getting the lay the land. They walk into the room and this is their science class. And then they see they have a sister for a science teacher.
- [25:37]
A
You know, you're a science teacher too, so I think you probably have a similar experience in grad school. At Catholic U, I would have students tell me they thought they were in the wrong classroom because I was sitting there in my habit. But as a teacher, I've had students stop me after school and say, how. How can you be teaching chemistry? You're a sister.
- [26:01]
B
Yes.
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A
As if faith and science can't possibly go together.
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B
Yes.
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A
How. How is this possible? Um, and that's actually what I love about being a sister science teacher is right away, by walking into a room, by having a poster or a talk at a presentation, at a, you know, an event, there's already this instant collaboration or integration, the natural relationship of faith and science right there. And I know you see that as well. In our science, we see way more than just science. We.
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B
We encounter the Creator, and we hope to help our students to see the Creator in the. In the natural world that we're studying.
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A
Right.
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B
Your specific area study was yeast.
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A
That's right.
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B
Yeast is a very.
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A
People love it for bread and beer, so it's a very common Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
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B
Isn't that. Oh, good. Okay, Way to go. And you were studying how a certain protein works in the seas for your. For your PhD work. So I'm gonna pose it to you this way. Like, how does studying yeast lead you to greater love of God? Or does it?
- [27:16]
A
I think it does. You realize I wasn't going to get the results I needed on my own. My own abilities. I could work as hard as I wanted. I would have three to five different experience experiments going at the same time just to maximize on time, working my tail off, honestly, to try to get the results, because you need a lot of repetition.
- [27:44]
B
In science, you were doing trials, trials
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A
and measurements and figuring things out. And it was, you know, if the Lord doesn't build the house, in vain do the builders labor. Mother Asamta kept saying, you need to make sure you get this, to get this finished. And you just can't. I mean, I'm, I'm following a story of yeast. I'm trying to discover PDR5 this protein, how it's interacting with something else in the. Yeah. And it's just not coming out very clearly. And so there's a lot of surrender there, a lot of trust as well as just prayer like, lord, show me the way.
- [28:22]
B
Yeah.
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A
And it's also interesting because it's a search of truth. You know, I'm, I'm seeking truth. How, how does this protein work in the yeast and how is this significant for human beings is, is a question. And yet, I don't know, you, you stop at moments and think, well, if I just look at this protein in isolation, how incredible it is just that
- [28:45]
B
one protein with all those amino acids in the exact right order.
- [28:50]
A
Yeah.
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B
And how functioning of the protein interact
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A
and fold together and transport, folding, carrying out the task.
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B
Right. That it's assigned to do.
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A
Right. It's like this little protein is a part of what makes life possible. And yet when you look at it by itself, it looks like it's almost living. And you know it's not.
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B
Right? Right.
- [29:10]
A
You know it's not.
- [29:11]
B
And then when you think of the human body, because you're just studying a yeast which has multiple proteins. Right. But the number that's. Of proteins in the human body that are functioning to keep us going and all that written into our DNA.
- [29:26]
A
Right.
- [29:27]
B
It's, it's awesome. Like, ah, inspiring.
- [29:31]
A
Awesome. Yes. And I love to point that out to my students. It's just the number of things going right right now in your body is a miracle. Like, and to take a moment and think about that, all these things that are happening because we study disorders, we study disease, but the fact that even the nervous system, like we're talking, we're looking at each other, we're hearing, we're seeing, we're doing muscle movements, our hearts are beating, we're breathing, all these things are happening and we're not thinking about majority of them. Right. Like this is actually amazing.
- [30:06]
B
Oh yeah.
- [30:07]
A
And that's the human body. But if you go into astronomy, you
- [30:12]
B
know, which are you teaching right now?
- [30:14]
A
I am, yes. It's just incredible to see Hubble telescope taught us so much about our universe and Then you have the James Webb, which went up a few years ago, and just the beautiful images coming out. But then we're questioning what do we actually know about this universe that we live in and kind of rethinking. So there's something beautiful in being a science teacher of recognizing, you know, we don't just have this book of facts that we're teaching. Science is the search for truth. And all truth comes from go. And so in studying the universe, we see his fingerprints all over. Like it's, it's amazing how using spectroscopy, you can know the chemical elements that are in stars light years away, right. And using the same process, you can know about atoms and elements in our own bodies or other things.
- [31:10]
B
And to think that everything in the universe is fine tuned just right for, for the, the elements of the periodic table to exist.
- [31:22]
A
And all of those were created in stars. I just, I love teaching that. You know, it's like these fusion machines that are building all the elements. And so we are stardust, like you are dust, and to dust you shall return. Like the elements that make us up were actually created in stars and are, are being recycled, you know, and yet the human person, we are so intimately loved and willed by God and held in existence at every moment in time. And, and that's something I like to teach our students too. Like, each breath tells you that you're loved. And that's, you know, just incredible to think about.
- [32:04]
B
I remember one time I was teaching chemistry and I was talking about how, well, the expansiveness of the universe and we're talking about, about the, the Big Bang, like the reasoning behind The Big Bang 13 billion years ago, everything expanding outward. You have planets and stars and all this matter. And this girl in my chemistry class, a sophomore girl, she's just taking it all and she's sitting there and I said, wow, it's so, it's so awe inspiring. Like the universe is, it's expanding, it's so big. And she was struck and she, she started crying and she's like, why, why did God make this? And I was like, he loves you. You can see him in the cosmos and he's. And he's with you and he's holding you in existence, in all of this. And I really thought it was a moment of grace for her because she was moved to tears about thinking about the love that the Creator has in bringing all this beauty into existence. And it does happen often in science class. It does when, when we're able to bring in the love of God and the way he's showing himself to us in the natural world. Right.
- [33:30]
A
And the only reason we can do science is because he's created so much
- [33:35]
B
order into this natural world and given us the. The in intellect to be able to understand it.
- [33:42]
A
That's right.
- [33:42]
B
And investigate it.
- [33:43]
A
Right.
- [33:44]
B
And sometimes we are off on things and we're still figuring things out.
- [33:49]
A
Yeah.
- [33:49]
B
About our universe.
- [33:50]
A
But I also. I like to point out the Catholic scientists that have gone before. And so with the Big bang, you know, there's Father George Lumet.
- [33:57]
B
Yeah.
- [33:57]
A
Who was the priest who actually put forth that theory. And there's just so many others that are. Are worthy of notes. Jerome Lejeune is one of my favorites. He discovered down syndrome. The cause of that.
- [34:10]
B
And of course, Mendel was the genetics. Considered father of modern genetics because of his work with the peas. Meticulous work with peas.
- [34:22]
A
That's right.
- [34:24]
B
Yeah. Lots of Catholics. Actually. I have some other quotes that I wanted to share. They're not specifically. They're not all Catholic. Some are Catholic, but they're notable scientists. This is quotes about the intersection of faith and science. So Isaac Newton, this most beautiful system of the sun, planets and comets could only proceed from the counsel and dominion of an intelligent and powerful being. Louis Pasteur. The more I study nature, the more I am amazed at the work of the Creator. Science brings us nearer to God. Okay. Michael Faraday. Now, he lived in the 1800s and he investigated the magnetic fields. He discovered electrolysis and electromagnetic things. And he said, the book of nature, which we have to read is written by the finger of God. And then this is a more contemporary scientist, NASA astronomer John o'. Keefe. He was a major leader in the American lunar program. We are, by astounding standards, a pampered, cherished group of creatures. If the universe had not been made with the most exacting precision, we could never have come into existence. It is my view that these circumstances indicate the universe was created for man to live in.
- [36:08]
A
Isn't that amazing?
- [36:09]
B
So beautiful.
- [36:09]
A
I. I just love it when you. When I'm teaching astronomy and just the perfect conditions to exist for human life. And the question of, is there other life out there?
- [36:21]
B
Even they always ask that come up.
- [36:24]
A
And, you know, we don't know yet. But with the. The billions and trillions of stars and planets and galaxies that are out there, you just think, it wouldn't surprise me if it is. But we know right here, right now, that we are loved and willed by God. And we have been given this beautiful Earth and we have been given our intellects to Understand it. And so much of the universe and.
- [36:53]
B
And our God. God has revealed himself to us, not only in the universe, but through sacred scripture.
- [36:59]
A
Right.
- [36:59]
B
So to combine those things together in our pursuit of knowing our Lord is a beautiful opportunity.
- [37:05]
A
And it's even more. Yeah. Just as we had into the Christmas season. It's like the incarnation. God became man. Yeah. Just to kind of take in that whole mystery of his love for us. He created all of this for us, and then he. He wants us to be with him forever. So he came and paid the price for us as well.
- [37:29]
B
Sister, last question for you. I wonder if you have any spiritual advice or words of encouragement that you would like to share with our listeners. I mean, you've said many beautiful things already.
- [37:44]
A
I. I would definitely say the Lord so deeply desires to know each and every person. And I know for me, I was amazed when I finally encountered that truth. It was just like his love for me was so overwhelming. I thought, wow, what makes me so special? And it was almost like, I can't share this with other people. Like, God loves me so much, he's invited me to be his bride. Just look at the gifts he's given to me. And I know that's not actually true. Like, it. It is for every single person. His great love for them is overwhelming. And I know there's so many people who are like me in my early life that maybe think he doesn't care that he's at a distance or I'm not good enough. I'm not wanted, I'm a burden. You know, any of those lies that you might carry. And the truth is he loves you. And he created you for a purpose, and he wants to know you. So if you already know him and in our relationship with him, keep seeking Him. And if you don't keep asking, father, show yourself to me. Because we have a loving father who's given us this incredible universe, who's given me these incredible sisters. And that's just what I would say.
- [39:07]
B
Yeah.
- [39:08]
A
Just seek to know his presence in your life. And look, he's. He's talking to us every day. Every day, every moment. There's. There's opportunities, ways. He's trying to actually speak to us. And that can be in a person, that can be in a beautiful sunrise. There's so many ways that he can speak to us.
- [39:27]
B
He's seeking you out.
- [39:28]
A
And so to look for those. Ask for those eyes to see his presence and those ears to hear his words and heart, to receive that love and to give it back to Him. Through others and in prayer.
- [39:40]
B
Sister, thank you so much. I love that. Are you ready for the speed round now?
- [39:46]
A
Well, I am from Alabama, so when you say speed, I hope you're ready to relax.
- [39:56]
B
You can take it whatever speed you want. So what is your favorite liturgical season and why?
- [40:05]
A
I would. Actually, I. One of my favorite things is living the liturgical season as a sister. Just the joys of it all. But I love Holy Week, especially the Holy Trinum, because time stops in those. Those days. As we, as His Beloveds are not teaching, we are having more time for prayer and contemplation and entering into the mysteries of our Lord's life, His passion, his death, and his resurrection. And that we can't live that enough again and again and again to encounter his love. And yeah, it's. It's a beautiful gift as religious consecrated women to enter into that so deeply every year.
- [40:52]
B
Thank you. Do you have a hobby?
- [40:56]
A
Do I have a hobby? I make rosaries. I can make rosaries. I like to make it for people. Not just. Yeah, for the sake of making it, but rosaries of all kinds.
- [41:10]
B
What is your favorite game at the moment?
- [41:13]
A
I enjoy card games, especially spades.
- [41:15]
B
Okay. Classic. Go to.
- [41:17]
A
Oh, yeah.
- [41:19]
B
What is a book that has impacted your spiritual life that you would like to recommend besides the Bible?
- [41:27]
A
You know, I just picked up a book by Father John Ricardo called Rescued. Have you heard of that one?
- [41:33]
B
No.
- [41:34]
A
He wrote it not too long ago, and I was kind of curious about it, so I picked it up actually, just a couple days ago. And it's. It's talking about the Kerygma. So why are we here? Where are we going and how are we going to get there And. And just talking about God's. God's plan in our lives. So.
- [41:52]
B
Great.
- [41:53]
A
Simple for you.
- [41:54]
B
Pass that one on to me when you're done.
- [41:56]
A
Absolutely.
- [41:58]
B
What is your favorite title of Our lady and why?
- [42:02]
A
The one that comes to mind is Virgin Most Faithful? Because I want to be the one who's faithful in all things great or small.
- [42:15]
B
What age group do you most enjoy teaching and why?
- [42:19]
A
That's a hard question. I. I enjoy all ages. I think. I love my time at Catholic U. I wasn't really teaching as much there, but just walking with students at that stage of life is a beautiful opportunity. And I have so many deep friendships from that time that I treasure. But it's also, you know, our kids, they carry so much, so I just love being that. That presence in their lives right now. So in high school, really building the. The relationship piece with Them. And. And being a friend,
- [43:00]
B
if you could have dinner with any saint, who would it be? And what would you ask them?
- [43:06]
A
I think one would be Our lady, because, I mean, what was it like being a mother to me? What's the backstory that I'm not aware of? That'd be interesting and kind of similar to that. It's actually St. Patrick. Because St. Patrick, he chose me.
- [43:26]
B
Yes.
- [43:27]
A
And that's still kind of a mystery. He's an amazing saint, and the reason that I asked for him to be my patron is as I was reading his confessions, I. I just felt like our hearts were intertwined and like, his story is very common with mine. So I think there's more to unfold with my patrons. And so I'd be curious for. To know more, like, why. Why do you want to be my friend?
- [43:50]
B
Okay, last one. Name an activity that brings you peace and refreshes your spirit.
- [43:57]
A
I. Well, adoration, of course, is. Is probably number one, but just being in nature, whether that's on a mountain or next to a body of water, I just. I love to be outside and. And taking in the beauty of God's creation.
- [44:15]
B
Sister, thank you. Thank you so much for coming and sharing. It's. It's so good to chat with you. I feel like we could keep going for hours. I hope to be able to live with you again sometime. I would share.
- [44:27]
A
Love that.
- [44:28]
B
Reunited. Maybe we could sing some songs again later. Later. But it's always a joy to chat with you. And thank you for sharing your thoughts about the spiritual life and also the connection of faith and science, a very important topic in our cultures. And we want to thank you for tuning into our podcast today. We're so happy to have you with us, and we would like to encourage you to pass along this podcast if you have someone in your. In your family or among your friends who might benefit from hearing. And our greatest hope is just that you and all of our listeners would come to know our Lord and that he'd be able to speak to your heart and draw you closer to his love. So thank you so much, and we pray for you, and God bless you. Have a great day.
- [45:25]
A
Sam.